NOTE TO EDITORS:

Minister to host Ministerial Conference on Francophone Affairs

Tom Lush, Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs, will host the seventh Ministerial Conference on Francophone Affairs at the Hotel Fairmont on Thursday, October 3^rd and Friday, October 4^th, 2002.

The meetings on Thursday will be attended by provincial and territorial Ministers Responsible for Francophone Affairs. They will be discussing interprovincial cooperation and governmental leadership with respect to Canadian Francophones. On Friday, the ministers will be joined by the federal Minister Responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, St�phane Dion.

Media availability for the event is as follows:

On Thursday, October 3^rd, Provincial and Territorial Ministers will be available to the media at 3:30 p.m. in the pre-function room of Salon A in the Hotel Fairmont.

On Friday, October 4^th, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers will be available to the media at 3:30 p.m. in the pre-function room of Salon A in the Hotel Fairmont.

All media are invited to attend.

Media contact: Janice Lockyer, Communications, (709) 729-1341.

2002 10 02                                         2:40 p.m.